David Kolb's learning theory, published in 1984, outlines a four-stage experiential learning cycle consisting of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This model emphasizes that learning is a continuous process where individuals can enter at any stage and describes four distinct learning styles: diverging, assimilating, converging, and accommodating. Each learning style corresponds to different approaches individuals take to process information and gain knowledge through experience.